The Citizen, 1997-07-09, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 9,1997 PAGE 7.
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10 (and 1/2) steps to protect your paint
With summer here, an annual rite of
passage commences with the weekend ritual
of washing and detailing your car. It's the
time of year when you clean the wheels and
polish the paint in an effort to bring back that
showroom shine. More important than a
"once over" every year, though, is to wash
your car on a consistent basis, protecting
against the damage caused by oxidation, acid
rain and other types of contamination. This
advice is even more critical for cars with
today's clearcoat paint finishes.
Bill Stuart, an expert in the detailing
industry for more than 20 years, outlined how
professionals take care of their own cars.
"Most importantly," he says, "wash often and
wash properly." Eggs, bird droppings, paint
overspray and even water droplets are likely
to cause permanent damage if left on the
finish. Washing incorrectly can do almost as
much harm as good. Stuart continued:
(1) Avoid washing your car in the sun.
When possible, work in a protected area to
cut down on the wind, which can carry dust
and dirt.
(2) Rinse off as much soil as possible
before washing.
(3) Properly clean the tires first, then the
wheels. Spray a cleaning solution onto the
tires and scrub with a strong-bristled brush; it
will let the tire absorb dressing more evenly
and more thoroughly.
(4) Cleaning the wheels, especially today's
clearcoated wheels, is important since brake
dust and road salt can cause irreversible
corrosion. It can start in hidden areas, and
once it penetrates the clearcoat, the damage is
impossible to correct. Use a brush that is safe,
with "flagged" bristles — ends that are cut
into tiny, super-soft pieces so they remove
soil without damaging the wheel's finish.
(5) Avoid cleaning warm wheels. A
chemical that might be safe at 60 degrees F
might easily discolor or otherwise damage a
wheel that is at 80 or 90 degrees F or hotter.
(6) Never use household detergents or dish
soap to wash your car. These strip the
protective wax coat, quickly causing your
car's finish to dry out and age prematurely.
(7) Use quality mitts rather than sponges or
towels. Washing with a sponge or towel can
actually grind the dirt into your car's surface.
Mitts made with cheap, synthetic materials
may not remove soil or hold wash solution
very well.
(8) Use two wash mitts. Clean the dirtiest
areas with the first mitt — below the body
side molding, the grille, areas covered with
bugs, etc. Use the second mitt and fresh wash
solution to clean the rest of the body from the
top down, keeping the car wet until you're
ready to dry.
(9) Wash in straight lines, not circles. Use
overlapping strokes to make sure you reach
every area.
(10) Take the nozzle off the hose to rinse
the car. This allows water to sheet off, leaving
less standing water for you to dry off.
Don’t forget those brake pads
Warmer weather is traditionally
the time for vehicle maintenance.
The brake system should always be
inspected as part of the normal
routine of lube, oil,
filter and tire rotation.
Manuf ac turers
recommend the
braking system be
checked frequently.
Check the owner's
manual, or ensure that
brakes are checked
every 25,000 kms. at
the very least.
Safety is not the only
reason for doing so.
Your bank account will be thankful
as well, since worn out brake pads
can cause serious damage to your
brake rotors, which can be
expensive to replace.
A simple way
describe a braking
system is to look
at the braking
system on a
bicycle.
Pulling on a
bike's brake
handle is
like pushing
a brake pedal.
The brake
cable activates in
the same way as
hydraulic pressure is
generated when you push on
are
CALIPERto
ROTOR
the brake pedal in your car.
_______ Brake pads
essentially the same
on a bike as on a
car, although a
BRAKE PAD car-s brake
pads are
obviously
larger and
made up of
d i fferen t
materials.
The caliper on
your car's brake
is essentially the
same as the clamping
arm (caliper) on your bike's
brake. Finally, the rim of your
bike's wheel performs the same
function as the rotor in your
vehicle's braking system. The brake
pad is pushed against the rotor (rim
of your bike's brake) to create the
friction that slows you down.
When brake pads on your car
wear down to where the backing
plates, or rivets, are exposed, very
serious damage can be done to the
rotors. The metal on metal grinding
at that point scores the rotors badly,
usually requiring them to be
replaced. This can be expensive for
some vehicles.
Drowsy drivers cause deadly disasters
By M. H. Parnu
Working the night shift the last few weeks
has taken a toll on your sleeping habits and
the only thing on your mind is a soft pillow
and a dark room. But it isn't a bed you're
headed for, it's your car and the highway.
You'll be okay to drive if you can just get a
cup of strong coffee...or will you?
New statistics are waking up the public to
the deadly dangers of sleep-deprived drivers.
In fact, a study by the U.S. National
Transportation Safety Board found that 60 per
cent of vehicle accidents investigated were
fatigue-related.
And the Canadian Automobile •
Association recently produced a
brochure entitled, "Wake Up!" that
specifically addresses the issue of
sleepy drivers creating havoc on the
roads.
"We're reading a growing number
of reports showing drowsy drivers can
be just as dangerous on the roads as
drunk drivers," said Deb Blewett, an
auto insurance expert from The Co
operators. "According to statistics,
being tired can impair a driver, just as
alcohol does. It makes sense. If you
are sleepy, you are not alert. A driver
who is not alert is not a good driver."
when really they are not. Sometimes the best
solution is getting off the road and sleeping,
but there are ways to combat fatigue.
For example:
• Get a driving buddy. If you have trouble
staying awake at the wheel, try not to drive
alone. Find someone who will share the
driving.
• Plan your driving time when you are
normally awake.
• Exercise. Pull over and do stretches, and
perhaps even take a quick walk.
Open a window and breathe in fresh cold
air.
• Don't drink any alcohol before you get
behind the wheel. That one glass of wine
may make you even more tired.
• Check any prescriptions you are taking to
ensure they do not cause drowsiness.
If you do feel giving into sleep is the only
alternative - pull over!
Look for a safe spot to pull off the road
(perhaps a rest
station parking
lot or car pool
lot) and take that
nap your body is screaming for.
"There's been a lol of publicity and startling
statistics produced about drunk driving, but
this issue also deserves attention," said
Blewett. "Many people probably do not
consider driving while sleepy a serious
problem, but these drivers are causing
accidents on our roads and that is a serious
issue."
Jeff Cook
Licenced Class 'A' Mechanic
Box 608, Clinton, ON
JC AUTO REPAIR
238 Albert St. (Hwy. #4 N.) CLINTON
(519) 482-1143
- Repairs to all makes of cars and trucks. -
CARTER'S WEST END GARAGE
AND BODY SHOP
EXHAUST AND BRAKE COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR
SPECIALISTS AND PAINTING
WHEEL ALIGNMENT & BALANCING
TOWING
OWNER-OPERATOR
HARVEY CARTER
215 HURON ST., BOX 728 PH: (519) 482-9363
CLINTON, ONT. N0M 1L0 FAX (519) 482-3534
i If JI VUJ
vviiL/ 1^ aivn io nut a gwu unwi.
A Gallup poll by the U.S. National f
Sleep Foundation found that 12 per
cent of people said sleepiness
routinely interfered with their ability
to drive during the day. And, at least
100,000 police-reported traffic
crashes and 1,500 deaths occur each
year because people fall asleep at the
wheel in the U.S., according to
another report.
Sleep disorder experts say many
people are not good judges of their
own level of fatigue. This results in
drivers on the road who think they are
alert enough to operate a vehicle,
DAN'S AUTO REPAIR
- COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE -
COMPUTERIZEDTUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES
MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION
Owned and Operated by
Dan & Heather Snell
WINGHAM
Certified Used Cars & Repairs to
all makes and models
RR 3, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1HO
(on the Westfield Rd.)
DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician
523-4356 519-357-3022Box 874 North St. W.
Wing ham, Ont. NOG 2W0